Luxury Texas Resort Ranch Opens to Leisure Guests

A small portion of the ranch has been available as a high-end hunting lodge but the Main House and Guest House are now open to group and leisure guests. The ultimate in luxurious accommodations and five-star service is available for two to 26 and can accommodate up to 42 if needed.

The ranch was owned by former Texas Governor John Connally until it was sold to its current owners in 1995. Connally is most notably known for being wounded in the limousine with President John F. Kennedy the day of the assassination. Connally called Picosa Ranch his home throughout his six-year tenure as the Governor of Texas, Secretary of the Navy under President Kennedy and Secretary of the Treasury under President Nixon.

The current owners have preserved memorabilia from Connally's days in office. The menus, programs and tickets to the luncheon and gala dinner that President and Mrs. Kennedy were to attend in Dallas and Austin along with a Stetson cowboy hat to be presented to President Kennedy are on display in the former Governor's office upstairs in the ranch house. A JFK autographed copy of "Profiles in Courage" dedicated to Connally is in the bookcase. And many, many more pieces of history are throughout the property.

Many world leaders, movie stars and dignitaries were hosted at the ranch and Air Force One has landed on the ranch's airstrip more than once.

A huge magnolia tree is planted by the swimming pool from a cutting that First Lady Pat Nixon brought to Nelly Connally from the magnolia tree at the White House that Andrew Jackson planted.

Here's what the property offers:

• An 8,200 square foot Main House
• A 3,400 square foot Guest House designed by O'Neil Ford, a leading architect of the American Southwest.
• Twenty-four hour food and beverage service with all meals daily prepared fresh and customized for guests by the staff gourmet chef
• Exotic animals roaming the land for photo safaris
• Luxurious lagoon style pool outside the lodge and lap pool outside the Main House and Guest House
• Spa services available
• Horseback riding and trail rides
• Eight fishing tanks and ponds
• Skeet shooting
• Hay rides, hay bale climbs, lasso lessons, tennis, horse shoes, volley ball and more
• Black Escalade chauffeured service
• Hummer for ranch riding
• Jeep golf carts for exploring
• Nightly turn down service with bedside water and chocolates

More information: Picosa Ranch